26 June 2009

PGM 332 "DEEP FOREST" : Week of June 26th...

"The music of the rainforest Pygmies of Zaire and the Central African Republic is among the most beautiful and haunting of all world musics. Older than written history, it reflects the Pygmies' underlying spiritual serenity, their warm humor, and powerful ties to their traditional home, the rainforest. From sweet child-like solo pieces to angelic group choruses, the Pygmies' music is intensely melodic and filled with natural hooks."

In 1991, French keyboardist and programmer MICHEL SANCHEZ imagined a new sound that would combine the music of the Pygmies with the electronic dance music then popular in Europe. With his partner ERIC MOUQUET and producer DAN LACKSMAN, they created a unique album, released in 1992, called DEEP FOREST.

The album's creators say, "Imprinted with the ancestral wisdom of the African chants, the music of DEEP FOREST immediately touches everyone's soul and instinct. In all civilizations, the forest is a mysterious place where the yarn of tales and legends is woven with images of men, women, children, animals and fairies. Not only living creatures, but also trees are steeped in magical power."

"The chants of Deep Forest — Baka chants of Cameroun, of Burundi, of Senegal and of the Pygmies, transmit a part of the oral tradi tion harmonizing all peoples and joining all continents through the universal language of music. DEEP FOREST is created in respect for this tradition, which humanity should cherish...as a treasure."